Vedic Literature - Statement in Yajurveda and Atharvaveda

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Important Statement in Yajurveda (Krsna)

Taitterya Brahmana

  • Number of ratnins 12.
  • ‘brahrma’ — foodgrains.
  • ՚sir — plough.
  • ‘kaivarta’ — fisherman.
  • ‘rajahiranya’ — silver.
  • ‘vaibhan’ - handloom.
  • Vaisyas exceeded others in numbers.
  • Vaisyas among men and cows among animals are to be enjoyed by others.
  • Reference to widow re­marriage.
  • Also refers to marriage between Arya male and Shudra female.

Taitterya Aranyak

  • Mention of Ambika as partner of Rudra.

Kath Upanishad

  • “Go away and let death come to you” — Uddalaka to his son Nachiketa
  • Kashmai Ma Dassasi -Nacchiketa
  • Discussion on death.

Svetasvar Upanishad

  • This is the oldest Upanishad.
  • It is the most theistic Upanishad.

Important Statement in Yajurveda (Shukla)

Shatpatha Brahmana

  • Adhavaryu priests com­posed it.
  • It is the most exhaustive and important of all the brahmans as it narrates the progress of the culture from Kuru Panchal to Videha
  • It mentions the story of Videha Madhav who adorn­ing Agni and accompanying purohit Gautam Rahugan started from bank of river Saraswati and went to the bank of river Sadnira (Gandak) .
  • It mentions number of ratnins as 13.
  • Some intellectual ladies mentioned by it are
  • Gargi Vachaknavi
    • Gandharva Grahita
    • Maitreyi
  • It mentions the agricultural process
    • Krashana - tilling
    • Vapan - sewing
    • Lunan — reaping and
    • Marshan — winnowing
  • ՚state is deer, people are the barley and chief has bhag in whatever belongs to the people.
  • Yoking of 6 oxen to plough thus indicating deep ploughing
  • Deals with ploughing rituals at length.
  • King is described as visamitta devourer of people because he lived on the taxes collected by them.
  • Reference of rajyabhi-sheka, which took place with water collected from 17 dif­ferent sources.
  • First elaborate mention of the Upanayan Ceremony
  • First reference to money lending. Kusidin meant a usurer.
  • Fist appearance of mrityu (death) theme.
  • First clear reference to rebirth
  • Ku — potters wheel.
  • Kashatriya are superior to brahmanas.
  • Refers to four different types of mounds for four dif­ferent varnas.
  • Sudra՚s can do Soma-yajna.
  • Reference of cattle, horse, sheep and pig sacri­fices.
  • It lists certain categories of human beings and animals considered unfit for sacri­fices:

Important Persons

  • Gaura- a kind of buffalo
  • Aranya -wild animal
  • Ustra — camel
  • Sarabha — elephant
  • It prescribes the burial of bones and erection of a samsana or tumulus over it.
  • It mentions both the sea, eastern (Bay of Bengal) as well as western (Arabian Sea) .

Brihadaranyak Upanishad

  • Yajnavalakya wrote it Yajnavalakya had two wives, Maitreyi - disciple of Uddalak Aruni.
  • Story of Asvapati of Kaikai
  • Story of Ajatshatru of Kashi
  • It says In heaven all are equal.
  • First appearance of idea of rebirth.
  • First to give doctrine of transmigration of soul
  • First o give doctrine of karma. Man is formed en­tirely out of desires, and ac­cording to desire is his re­solve, and according to his resolve he performs the ac­tions, and according to the performance of the actions is his destiny.

Atharvaveda

Gopatha Brahmana

  • ‘taksha’ — carpenter.

Mundak Upanishad

  • It refers to the dispute be­tween Yajnvalakya and Gargi.

Prasna Upanishad

  • The six disciples of Paipalad ask him questions and the subsequent answers.